Angel Fire

I got my new bike last week thanks to Cutting Edge Sports and the Trek Store Boulder. They worked overtime to make sure it was all put together and ready to go to Angel Fire, NM to race. Thanks guys!!
So, now for the race recap. Saturday I got up and did a pre-ride loop. The course was pretty wet, really rocky, and slick. It also seemed like a lot of fun and was definitely one of the more technical race courses I've done. I "rocked the casbah" (in Eringlish this means I cleared some rocky technical section) a few times and was feeling pretty good about my bike, my skills, and my fitness. I then cleaned up and spent some time hanging out with Ari at our condo watching the rain fall. Then it was time to get chamoised up again and warm up for the short track. Without realizing it, soon I was standing at the start waiting for the official to send us off. i hadn't paid attention and had lined up on the inside line in the very back row, basically the worst starting position i could've picked. The gun went off and i was in last...through the first turns still in last, watching as the leaders rode away...I was able to pass a few people on the first open climb and tried to bridge up to the leaders who were really long gone. The effort sort of blew me up and I became resigned with my current position. I got a second wind towards the end and managed to move up a bit, but it still wasn't my best performance. As I explained to those that asked what the hell I was doing in the very back for the first lap; my head just wasn't in it.
Unfortunately, it was a similar story for the cross country race the next morning. I could go through a play by play detailing physical struggles and technical issues, but the bottom line is I wasn't there physically or mentally. I took my first ever DNF in a mountain bike race and Ari and I were on the road home before the rest of my field had even finished.
However, we did stop at the New Mexico Vietnam Memorial on the way. I mean it WAS Memorial Day weekend! That was pretty cool actually and put things into perspective a little bit. It also made me wish that my Grandfather was still alive. There are moments when I think of him and wish he were still around, and this was one of those moments for some reason.